Certificate-of-need laws have long been a point of contention in ASC development. Here are three recent fights over CON approval:
1. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare won CON approval to develop an ASC in Hanover, Va., on Aug. 13. Approval to build the $21 million Middle Virginia Surgicenter came after two consecutive rejections by state health authorities and significant pushback from Bon Secours, a rival health system based in Cincinnati.
2. On Aug. 27, the city of Hoover, Ala., and Hoover Health Care Authority earned CON approval to move forward with their planned ASC in Hoover after months of pushback by Forest Park Group. The group countered that it planned to offer similar services to the ASC in the same area.
3. Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids (Iowa) was given an exemption from CON requirements for a new development Aug. 27. Mercy representatives urged state health officials to agree to the exemption by arguing that their plan to establish an off-site location in North Liberty, Iowa, did not include a full range of hospital services, thus not triggering a need for a new hospital license.